as in chat
friendly, informal conversation or an instance of this
at the corporate get-together we made the obligatory small talk with some people from the home office
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of small talk
The parents’ brief meeting when Ray — clearly allergic to small talk — comes to pick up Colin on his bike is endearingly awkward.
—
David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 18 May 2025
The experience felt a little like getting unexpectedly absorbed in a trashy episode of reality TV, but also like suddenly realizing that a conversation that started in the shallows of small talk has at some point drifted into the deep waters of meaning.
—Peter C. Baker, New Yorker, 11 May 2025
No more awkward networking events or forced small talk.
—Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 9 May 2025
Louis Partridge politely gives his name to the Cartier check-in staff and makes small talk about how great his first Met Gala was.
—Elise Taylor, Vogue, 6 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for small talk
David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 18 May 2025
The experience felt a little like getting unexpectedly absorbed in a trashy episode of reality TV, but also like suddenly realizing that a conversation that started in the shallows of small talk has at some point drifted into the deep waters of meaning.
—Peter C. Baker, New Yorker, 11 May 2025
No more awkward networking events or forced small talk.
—Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 9 May 2025
Louis Partridge politely gives his name to the Cartier check-in staff and makes small talk about how great his first Met Gala was.
—Elise Taylor, Vogue, 6 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for small talk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for small talk
Noun
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The chat was organized by Michael Waltz, whom Trump later removed as national security adviser.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
7 June 2025
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The details were relayed in two chat groups that included Hegseth - one with Vice President JD Vance and other high-ranking officials, and a second one that included Hegseth's wife, who is not employed by the government.—
Luis Martinez,
ABC News,
7 June 2025
Noun
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But if confirmed, the Russian advance would be a setback for Ukrainian forces at a time when peace talks have stalled.—
Kosta Gak,
CNN Money,
8 June 2025
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But how will the U.S. withdrawal from the global climate talks affect the overall trend?—
Ken Silverstein,
Forbes.com,
8 June 2025
Noun
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On December 7, after a 4-2 defeat at Brentford, Newcastle were 12th in the table and, externally, there was chatter about Eddie Howe’s position.—
George Caulkin,
New York Times,
29 May 2025
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Suddenly, though, there is a confluence of intriguing points: The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill that, if the chatter is to be believed, will see resistance in the Senate but that resistance will be about some combination of spending cuts and tax increases.—
Jim Cramer,
CNBC,
27 May 2025
Noun
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Each monthly box includes three recipe guides, skill lessons, a kitchen tool, a kitchen project, an apron patch, table talk cards, and a grocery list.—
Jessica Booth,
Parents,
16 Dec. 2024
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Almost everything about Thanksgiving, from travel to table talk about politics, has the potential to become fraught.—
Kendra Nordin Beato,
The Christian Science Monitor,
26 Nov. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Small talk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/small%20talk. Accessed 13 Jun. 2025.
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